Looking For An Unusual Pet?  How About A Pet Skunk?

If you know someone who has a pet skunk, he or she is going to tell you that a skunk is one of the most loveable, devoted and fun animals you could ever choose for a pet.  Skunks have unique personalities that combine intelligence and stubbornness.  While it is a challenge to have a skunk as a pet because of the patience and daily care required, the experience can be quite rewarding.

What To Feed a Pet Skunk 

Just like you and your family, a skunk requires a well-balanced and varied diet.  Skunks require a lot of vegetables, and they like to have a bit of fruit, some fresh-cooked meats, low fat yogurt and cottage cheese.  They will also enjoy a vanilla wafer or sugar cookie as a daily treat. 

Avoid feeding chocolate, cat food or sunflower seeds to your pet skunk.  These foods can kill your pet or make it seriously ill.

Skunks are food and snack motivated -- meaning that you have some leverage in training your unusual pet!

 

Blurb Alert! PHEW!  Has your dog or cat come home, stinking from skunk spray?  You need the SKUNK ODOR REMOVER 32 OZ

Curiosity May Kill The Cat, But A Skunk Thrives On It

Skunks are both strong and curious, meaning that you'll quickly discover that they are able to move your furniture!  They will dump out your purse, book bags, baskets, toy chests and potted plants to see what treats they might find because they love to play with their owner's stuff. 

To create a soft, cuddly nest to sleep in, you might find that your pet skunk has stolen the blankets from your bed.  They'll steal just about anything else they can find, too, that's warm and snuggly.  Not only will your pet skunk like to make his or her own little bed, but you might find that it prefers to sleep with you in your bed at night.

Training and Care of a Pet Skunk

Skunk Vaccination Shots.  Just like your dog or cat, regular visits to your vet are in order if you have a pet skunk.  Skunks require shots  but the vaccines must be chicken based.

Skunk De-Scenting and De-Clawing.  In order to be great household pets, the skunks have been de-scented. They are de-scented at the age of about 4 weeks before the leave the breeding farm. Since this is the skunk's main defense mechanism, a de-scented skunk can never be let outside again because it can be easily killed. Skunks do not chew or slobber, they do not shed and they cannot be de-clawed. A skunk uses his claws the same way people use their toes. Without claws the skunk cannot walk or hold their food properly.

Skunk Potty Training.  Your pet skunk can be litter box trained.  Like cats, skunks are very clean animals.  Your pet skunk will be shy about using the bathroom, so you should place the litter box in a corner that is away from a living area.  If a skunk does not have a litter box available, it will instinctively find a corner to use.  So make sure your litter box is in a corner.

Chemical and Other Sensitivities.  Skunks are sensitive and it is not unusual for them to be allergic to pollen, dust and hair spray. Pesticides can be deadly to skunks. Lysol® and Glade® products contain a chemical that will make a skunk very sick.

Other Training Notes.  Skunks are natural diggers and climbers. These habits can be broken to a certain extent but they will always enjoy doing these things because it is their nature. Your pet skunk will not normally be a destructive animal.  It will like to steal your things in order to cuddle with them, but will not destroy them.

Your Pet Skunk's Lifespan and Other Skunk Characteristics

Skunk ownership is a long-term commitment. With proper diet and veterinary care, the average lifespan of a skunk in captivity is 17—22 years.

Skunks are generally silent animals, although they will make soft bird-like whistles when they are happy and  showing affection.  If they are angry or scared, they can screech loudly like a Macaw.

Skunks are not all black and white. Some are in shades of brown, black, gray and blonde. There are albino skunks that have pink eyes and there are white skunks that have dark eyes. There are even lavender skunks. They can have 2-6 stripes and can have spots and swirls mixed in with the stripes.

Conclusion

Skunks make great pets for families and single people alike.  Skunks are said to give back 100 times the love, affection and fun that you give to them.

"Looking For An Unusual Pet?  How About A Pet Skunk?" contributed by Veronica Lopez